US court orders Google to remove restrictions on third-party app stores
A court order in the United States imposed on Google the obligation to eliminate warnings that make it difficult to install third-party app stores from the Play Store. The decision, issued by US District Judge James Donato, results from a legal process and a previously established agreement with Epic Games.
The court found that Google practices “anti-competitive friction” that prevents users from choosing other application platforms. The verdict requires the company to make the process of installing an alternative store as simple as installing an Android application downloaded from the Play Store itself. These changes must be implemented within one week.
Learn more: End of the dispute between Epic and Google: Play Store will have competing app stores from July
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Fixes to simplify access to alternative platforms
During the trial, Epic Games’ lawyer presented evidence that, when searching for “app store” on the Play Store, the results only show physical establishments, such as Walmart, and not other software stores. Additionally, even after finding a third-party store on Google Play, a user must first click a “Preview” button before being able to select “Install,” a step that the court ordered be removed.
Another point of friction observed is the search for “Aptoid”, the first third-party application store available on the Play Store. Instead of a direct listing, the user is directed to a banner that requires an additional tap to take them to the store page. Google was ordered to correct this step as well, aiming to ensure a more fluid user experience without unnecessary barriers.
